Bismuth(III) sulfate

Bismuth(III) sulfate is an inorganic chemical compound of bismuth with the formula Bi2(SO4)3. It is a hygroscopic white solid that decomposes at 465 °C to bismuth(III) oxysulfate and is isotypic to antimony(III) sulfate.

Production
Bismuth(III) sulfate is most commonly produced from the reaction of bismuth(III) nitrate and sulfuric acid:
 * 2 Bi(NO3)3 + 3 H2SO4 -> Bi2(SO4)3 + 6 HNO3

Another polymorph of bismuth(III) sulfate can be produced by the treatment of lithium bismuthate(III) with sulfuric acid.

Properties
Bismuth(III) sulfate decomposes at 465 °C to Bi2O(SO4)2. If continually heated, it decomposes to various bismuth oxysulfates and at 950 °C it decomposes to bismuth(III) oxide. Bismuth(III) sulfate hydrolyzes in water.